FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (while in office); Norma Ward (married in 1919)Children: Two children (after he left office): Ernest Ward, and Joan JessieFamily Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was born on a farm near Beresford.

He had Viking ancestry.

The Minnesota Legislative Manuals, 1912 and 1913 list him as a Republican. However, in 1913 he was also endorsed by the State Progressive League and the State Federation of Labor.

His first successful run for the United States Congress was as a Republican. His subsequent wins were as a Farmer-Laborite/Farmer-Labor.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Congress in the 1914 election.

Due in part to his unpopular vote for the United States to stay out of World War I, he lost his party's endorsement for reelection to the United States House of Representatives in the 1918 primary election.

He also ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in the 1920 primary election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in the 1922 election and the 1923 special election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota Supreme Court in the 1924 election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in the 1926 election.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Farmer-Labor party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Governor in the 1928 election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in a 1929 special election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in the 1930 election.

He was a member of the National Champion Rifle Team, 1909.

He was member of Athenian and Delta Sigma Rho fraternities.

He won the Minnesota State Oratorical contest in 1901.

He died in a plane crash, just west of Washington D.C. near Lovettsville, Virginia, before his term expired in the United States Senate. He was buried in Little Arlington National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

38th Legislative Session (1913-1914)

Party:RepublicanParty Notes: The Minnesota Legislative Manuals, 1912 and 1913 list him as a Republican. However, in 1913 he was also endorsed by the State Progressive League and the State Federation of Labor.